Time Strategies

I love my color-coded daily planner.

(Source)

I read two articles. The first was "How to build a realistic study plan that you'll actually stick to".  I found it interesting that they focused on a weekly planner, with only a mention of a daily planner. For me, I find it much more useful to have a daily planner, to the point I buy a notebook I like and fill it out to make my own planner, so that it's exactly what I want. It helps me to have my recurring obligations (like classes, work, weekly meetings, etc.) visible along with the other tasks I need to complete. By being able to see the blocks of time I have a planned obligation, it helps me to see what time I do have open for other things, like studying, cleaning, hanging out with friends, and working on personal projects. 

The second article I read was "Why time management is ruining our lives". I found this article fascinating. It hit really close to home. I, like most people these days it seems, am doing way too much and am way too busy. I relate to a subtle, but ever-present sense of anxiety derived from the sense that there is always something I need to be working on that I am not. One line from the atricle that caught my eye is "The allure of the doctrine of time management is that, one day, everything might finally be under control." The goal is to always have everything that I need to do done. But I also consciously realize that that will never happen. There will always be something I want to get done.
Time management is important in today's society. However, it is important to take a critical look at what you choose to put your time towards, how much it matters, and why you are pursuing it.

The article also addresses the idea that we have made productivity and efficiency things that everyone should strive for. We've lost our concept of free time. Even our free time feels like it needs to be productive. In my own life, I almost feel guilty for "wasting" time doing things that I enjoy instead of things that I should be doing, or things to advance myself. The article makes a really poignant point in my “Growth for the sake of growth is the ideology of the cancer cell.” It is important to do things we enjoy just because we enjoy them, with no larger purpose. I find even just finding (or making!) the time to cook myself dinner instead of going for fast food makes a huge difference in my mood.